Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4 and ZnO nanocomposites by the sol-gel method

In this work, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were first prepared from ferric nitrate (Fe(NO3)(3) 9H(2)O) and ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) in inert atmosphere using the sol-gel method. In the next stage, composite nanopowders of Fe3O4-ZnO were obtained from zinc acetate and diethanolamine via the sol-gel method. The precursor was first dried and then annealed in vacuum furnace at different temperatures. The X-ray diffraction results confirm the formation of Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposites. Transmission Electron Microscopy showed that the prepared powders are made of the spherical shape particles with an average size of about 40 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectra for the characteristic absorption of Zn-O bond is at 453.1 cm(-1) and of Fe-O bond is 540.2 cm(-1). Results of vibrating sample magnetometer reveal that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles are superparamagnetic, whereas in the form of Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposites are not. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.